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Duke  University  Libraries 

Remarks  of  Hon. 
Conf  Pam  #637 


REMARKS 


OF 


HON.  JOHN  PERKINS, 


OF    LOUISIANA, 


On  presenting  from  the  Oommittee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  Bes<h 
littiona  in  regard  to  the  Negotiations  for  Peace.  ■. 


.  The  Committee  on  Foreign  Aifiirs,  to  whom  waa  referred 
the  special  message  of  tht?  President  and  the  report  of  the 
Com'tnissioners,  have  directed  me  to  report  those  communica- 
tions biick,  with  the  recommendation  that  they  be  printed  and 
laid  on  the  table.  They  have  also  directed  me  to  present  for 
the  adoption  of  the  House  the  following  resolutions: 

Joint  Resolutions  expressing  tJie  sense  of  Congress  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  late  Peace  Commission. 

''  WiitREAS,  The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  have 
ever  been  desirous  of  an  hon  rable  and  a  permanent  settle- 
ment, by  negotiation,  of  all  matters  of  differepce  between  the 
people*  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  and  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  and.  to  this,  end  provided,  imme- 
diately on  its  asseii  bling  at  Montgomery,  in  February, -IHdl, 
for  the  M-nding  of  three  commissioners  to  Washington -to  ne* 
gotiate  frien  dy  relations  on  all  questions  of  disagreeriient  be- 
tween- the  two  governments  on  principles  of  right,  jut-tice, 
equity  and  good  faith  ;  ami,  whereas,  these  having  been  re- 
fused *  reception,  Congress  ag;iin,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1804, 
adopteil  and  pu'dished  a  uianitehto  to  the  civilized  world,  d(  dar- 
ing its  continued  desire  to  settle  without  further  shedding  of 
bloo  f,  upon  lionorabie  terms,  all  questions  at  issue  between  the 
people  ol  the   Confederate   States  and  those  of  the  United 


States,  to  which  the  only  response  received  from  the  Congress 
ot  the  United  States  has  been  the  voting  down,  by  liirge  ma- 
jorities, all  resolutions  proposing  an  amicable  settlement  of 
existing  difficulties ;  arid,  whereas,  the  President  has  commu- 
ijicated  to  this  House  that,  in  the  same  spirit  of  .conciliation 
and  peace,  he  recently  sent  Vice  President  Stephens.  Senator 
Hunter  and  Judge'  Campbell,  to  hold  conference  with  such 
persons  as  the  government  of  the  United  .States  might  desig- 
nate to  meet  them  ;  and,  whereas,  these  eminent  citizens,  after 
a  full  conference  v  ith  President  Lincoln  arid  Secretary  Sew- 
»r<l,  have  reporred  that  they  were  informed  explicitly  that  the 
au'horities  of  the  United  States  would  hold  no  negot  ations 
with  the  Confederate  States,  or  any  of  them  separately ;  that 
BO  terms,  except  such  as  a  conqueror  grants. to  the  subjug.ttecJ, 
would  be  extended  to  the  people  of  these  States  ;  and  that  the 
subversion  of  our  institutions,  and  a  complete  submission  to 
their  rule,  was  the  only  condition  of  peace:   Therefore-, 

Resolved,  by  {he.  Congresx  of  the  Confederate  t^tutes  of 
.America,  That,  while  Congress  regrets  that  no  alternative  is 
left  to  the  people  of  the  Coniederate  States  but  a  continuance 
of  the  war,  or  Submission  to  terms  of  peace  alike  ruinou*  and 
dishonorable,  it  accepts,  in  their  behalf,  the  issue  tendered 
them  by  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  Governrnt  nt,  and 
jsoleranly  declares  that  it  is  their  unalterat)le  determination  to 
prosecute  the  war  with  the  United  States  until  that  power 
ehall  desist  from  its  efforts  to  sur.jugate  them,  and  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Confederate  Statos  shall  have  been  estab- 
lished. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  has  received  with  pride  the 
numerous  noble  and  patriotic  resolutions  passed  by  ttie  army ; 
and  in  the  gallant  and  unconquered  spirit  which  they  hieathe, 
coming  from  those  who  have  for  years  endured  dangers  and 
privations,  it  sees  unmistakable  evidence  that  the  entiiusiastn 
with  which  they  first , dedicated  their  lives  to  the  defence  of 
their  .country  is  not  yet  extinct,  but  has  been  confirmed,  by 
baidships  and  suffering,  into  a  piinciple  of  resistance  to  North- 
ern rule,  that  will  hold  in  contempt  all  di>graceful  terms  of 
Bubmission  ;  and  for  these  expressions  in  camp,  as  well -as  for 
their  noble  acts  in  the  field,  our  fcoldiers  deserve,  and  will  re- 
ceive, the  thanks  of  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  invites  the  people  of  these 
States  to  assemble  in  public  meetings,  and  renew  their  vows 
of  devotion  to  the  <;ause  of  independence;  to  declare  their  de- 
termination to  maintain  their  liberties ;  to  pledge  themselves 


to  do  all  ia" their  power  to  fill  the  ranks  of  our  army;'  to  pro- 
vide for  the  support  of  the  families  of  our  soldiers ;  and  t,Q 
cheer  an<i  comfort,  by  every  means,  the  gallant  men  who  for 
years,  through  trials  and  dangers,  have  vindicated  our  rights 
on  the  battle  field. 

Ri'solviki,  That,  invoking  the  blessing  of  God,  and  confiding 
in  the  justice  of  our  cause,  in  the  valor  and  endurance  of  our 
soldiers,  and  in  the  deep  and  ardent  devotion  of  our.  people  to 
thegreat  principles  of  civil  and  political  liberty,  for  which  w« 
are  contending,  Congress  pledges  itself  to  the  passage  of  the 
most  energetic  measures  to  secure  our  ultimate  success. 

'  These  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  committee  the  daj 
after  the  subject  was  referred  to  them,  and  have  Ijeen  on  my 
desk  ever  since,  waiting  an  opportunity,  under  the  rules  of  the 
House,  to  be  presented. 

They  state  what  has  been  the  policy  of  Congress  -on  the 
suhject  of  negotiating  for  peace  with  the  United  States  from 
the  beginning  of  our  government,  and  conclude  with  a  hrief 
but  decided,  expression  of  opinion  on  the  result  of  the  late 
commis-ion  or  negotiation,  brought  to  our  attention  by  the 
message  of  the  President. 

In  the  preamble  of  the  resolutions  reference  is  made  to  the 
fact  that  the  Montgomery  Congress,  even  before  it  inaugurated 
the  President  of  the  Confederate  States,  provided  by  an  act 
dated  the  15th  of  February,  1861,  for  "a  commission  of  three 
persons,"  to  be  sent  "as  early  as  convenient,"  to  negotiate 
friendly,  relations  between  the  Confederate  States  and  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  "to  settle  all  questions  of 
disagreement  between  th«m,  upon  principles  of  right,  justice, 
equity  and  good  faith;"  and  that  three  commissioners,  con- 
sisting of  Ex-Governor  Roman,  of  Louisiana,  a  gentleman  of 
great  influence  and  worth,  and  a  distinguished-  monber  of  the 
old  Whig  party,  and  the  Hon.  John  Forsyth,  of  Alabama,  a 
former  minister  to  Mexico  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
DougliiS  party,  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  a  for- 
mer member' of  the  United  States  Congress  and  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  were  sent  to  Washington  on  this  mission  of  peace 


immediately  on  the  inauguration  of  President  Davis  ;  but  were 
refused  even   an   audience   by  the   Federal  authorities.     The 
preamble  further   states   the  fact   that   in  the  month  of  June, 
1864,  after  the  war  had  .progressed  for- three  years,  the  Con- 
gress adopi^ed  a  manifesto,  and  published  it  to  the  world  in  the 
most  solemn  and  authentic  manner  declaring  its  desire  to  have 
an  amicable  adjustment   of  all   difficulties  between,  the  people 
of  the  Confederate  States  and  the  Government  of  the  United 
States;  and  that  to  this*  expression   no  friendly  response  has 
ever   been   made  by  the   Congress  of  the  United  States,  but 
that,  on  the  contrary,  it  has  repeatedly  voted  down,  by  large* 
majorities,  ^'esolutions  that  merely  expressed  the  hope  that  the 
people  of  the  South  might  enter  again  upon  the   peaceful  en- 
joyment of  their  rights  in  the  Unioi.     The  preamble,  in  con- 
clusion, approves  the  act  of  the  President  in  again  sending  a 
commission,  on  the  28th  of  January  last,  to  negotiate  for  the 
restoration   of  peace,   composed   of  Hon.  A.    H.  Stephens,  of 
Georgia,. Vice  President  of  the  Confederate   States;   Hon.  R. 
M.  T.  Hunter,  Senator  from  Virginia;  and  Hon.  J.  A.  Camp- 
bell, of  Alabama,  late  of -the   United-  States   Supreme- Court, 
and  present  Assistant   Secretary  of  War  of  the  Confederate 
Btates — three   of  the  most   eminent  and  conservative  of  our 
Southern  statesmen;  and  gives  as  the  result  of  their  efforts  at 
negotiation,    '■'•  that   no  terms  or  proposals  of  any   treaty  or 
agreement  looking  to  an   ultimate   settlement  would  be  enter- 
tained or  made  by  the  federal  authorities  'with  the  authorities 
of  the  Confederate  States  or  the   States  separately,  and  that 
no  extended  truce  or  armistice  would  be  granted  or  allowed' 
without  a  satisfactory  ansuranee  in   advance   of  a  complete 
submission  to  the  rule  vf  the  United- States  government." 

.The  i-esolutio.ns,  in  view  of  these  facts,  express  regret  that 
a  peaceful  settlement  of  our  diifioulties  has  been  rendered 
impossible  by  the  action  of  the  United  States  authorities,  and 
declare,  that  sad  and  dreadful  as  the  people.of  the  Confederate 
Btates  know  from  experience  the  evils  qf  war  to  be,  they  will 
willingly  encounter  and  resolutely  endure  all  the  sacrifices  of 


a  continued  struggle  rather  than  submit  unconditionally  to  the 
rule  of  a  government  that  seeks -first  to  dishonor  and  then  to 
destroy  them. 

The  second  resolution  thanks  our  gallant  soldiers  for  their 
patriotic  expressions  of  devotion  to  our  cause  from  the  camp, 
as  well  as'for  their  noble  acts  on  the  battle-field. 

The  third  resolution  calls  upon  the  people  of  the  country  to 
assemble  in  meetings  and  pledge  themselves  anew  to  furnish 
food  and  clotiiing  for  our  soldiers,  to  provide  for  their  families", 
and  to  do  all  in  their  power  for  the  success  of  our  arms. 
•  The  Inst  resolution  is  the  utterance  of  Coni.Tress  itself,  and 
says  that,  invoking  the  blessing  of  God,  and  relying  on  the 
justness  of  our  cause,  the  noble  endul-ance  of  our  soldiers,  and 
the  patriotism  of  our  people,  Congress  will  adopt  such  ener- 
getic measures  as,  in  its  judgment,  will  contribute  to  the 
ultimate' success  of  our  arms. 

I  do  not  suppose,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  more  is  necessary  to 
ensure  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions  than  thus  briefly  to 
call  them  to  the  attention  of  members;  but  as  they  are  to  be 
the  solemn  legislative  expression  of.  the  country  upon  the 
events  of  the  day,  they  have  an  importance  beyond  ordinary 
resolves,  and  as. the  Oommittoe  desire  their  immediate  adoption, 
I  will  add  a  few  words  in  further  explanation  of  their  purpose 
and  character.  '     • 

In  oflFering  them'  as  pledges  of  renewed  devotion  to  Southern 
independence  on  the  part  of  this  Congress,  I  am  reminded  of 
the  occasion  when,  four  years  ago  this  very  month,  I  first  pre- 
sented in  the  Congress,  at  Montgomery,,  resolutions  pledging 
the  Confederate  States  to  permanent  separation  from  the 
United  States.  Since  that  time  the  country  has  given  more 
substantial  pledges  to  the  cause  in  its  noble  sacrifices  on  the 
battle-field.  Many  of  the  eminent  men  who  then  shared*  our 
councils  have  disappeared;  some  in  the  natural  course  of 
events — but  most  have  sealed  with  their  lives  the  dedication 
tliey  then  made  of  themselves  on  the  newly  erected  altar  of 
their  country.     The  names,  too,  that  were  associated  with  our 


early  victories  liaA'c  given  place  for  the  most  part  to  those  of 
newer  men  that,  born  with  the  occasion,  have  risen  to  fill  their 
places.  And  yet,  sir,  with  undiminished  impetaosity  the 
bloody  stream  of  events  which  engulfed  those  men  still  £ow3 
on.  Sir,  if  humanity,  outraged  by  the  needless  shedding  of 
blood  and  the  perpetration  of  atrocities  such  as  heretofore  have 
only  characterized  war  among  savage  people,  shall  at  last  lift 
her  voice  and  call  upon  Christendom  io  mark  with  its  reproba-' 
tion  the  present  barbarous  contest,  the  responsibility  will  be 
seen  not  to  have  been  with  us.  If  hereafter  the  historian,  in 
drawing  the  gloomy  picture  of  the  fall  of  the  great  republic 
of  the  West,  shall  find  the  cause  of  its  destruction  in  the  pre- 
sent contest,  the  records  of  this  Congress  will  show  that  the 
Southern  States  were  from  the  first  desirous  in  every  way  by 
negotiation  to  avert  its  catastrophe. 

But  there  will  be  a  responsibility  attaching  to  us  in  the 
passage  of  these  resolutions  that  I  wisli  to  record  and  which 
will  be  the  source  of  just  pride.  If,  sir,  it  is  ever  honorable 
in  a  nation's  history  that  in  defence  of  its  liberties  it  gave  up 
the  ease  and  comfort  of  peace,  and  hailed  with  enthusiasm  even 
war,  with  all  its  sufferings,  rather  than  submit  to  dishonor; 
and  that  in  the  progress  of  war  it  could  be  generous  in  the 
midst  of  passion,  and  so  temper  justice  with  humanity  as  to  be 
willing  at  all  times  to  negotiate  peace  with  those  from  whom  it 
had  received  only  wrong  ;  then  it  will  indeed  be  a  circumstance 
in  our  history  full  of  dignity  and  honor,  that  with  cool  and 
resolute  determination  the  people  of  the  Confederate  States, 
though  surrounded  by  the  evidence  of  wide-spread  suffering, 
and  with  the  most  earnest  desire  for  peace,  accepted,  with  an 
unanimity  equalled  onl}^  by  that  with  which  they  entered  upon 
the  contest,  the  cruel  and  stQrn  issue  presented  by  the  enemy, 
and  that  from  the  people  and  the  army  there  came  up  alike  the 
expression  of  a.  fixed  resolve  to  continue  the  struggle  until 
their  rights  as  freemen  should  be  acknowledged. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  expressions  that  reach'us  daily  from  the 
army  are  no  idle  and  unmeaning  resolves.     They  come  from 


tlie  hearts  oT  men  who  know  what  war  is,  an.d  who  have  not 
forgotten  the  enjoyments  of  peace.  They  have  all  the  elo- 
quence of  heroic  acts,  and  when  read  at  your  desk  excite 
within  nae  emotions  that  I  find  difficult  to  express.  Sir,  the 
enemy  may  penetrate  our  borders,  and  with  ruthless  barbarity 
burn  our  towns  and  lay  waste  our  territory,  but  if  tlie  spirit  of 
this  government  and.  the  people  remain  as  unbroken  as  that  of 
our  goldiers,  our  final  triumph  is  certain.  Such  successes, 
while  they  do  not  permanently  weaken  our  power  of  resistance, 
will  bring  them  no  strength. 

A.devastateu  but  not  a  conquered  people  will  rise  up  behind 
the  march  of  their  armies,  and  soon,  while  boasting  from  victo- 
ries, they  will  be  suing  for  peace  of  those  they  proclaimed 
vanquished.  A  people  of  the  numerical  strength,  and  of  the 
spirit  of  ours,  and  inhabiting  a  country  of  the  extent  of  ours,- 
with  its  facilities  for  military  defence,  if  true  to  themselves, 
cannot  be  conquered.  There  is  a  patriotism  independent  of  a 
man's  possessions,  or  of  the  particular  spot  of  land,  on  whicj;^ 
be  lives,  and  that  links  the  aflFections  to  one's  country,  because 
it  is  his  country,  by  ties  as  strong  and  holy  as  those  that  place 
man  in  sympathy  with  his  God. 

The  home  of  our  infancy,  the  hallowed  localities  of  religioa 
and  the  dead,  and  the  scenes  of  our  daily  life,  into  which  have 
been  woven  our  dearest  associations,  may  be  all  desolated  by 
the  foe,  and  yet,  if  there  be  that  strength  of  soul  that  comes 
of  noble*  ends,  there  will  be  no  despondency.  On  the  con- 
trary, from  the  very  de(jth  of  our  suffering  there  will  be  safety 
in  the  determination  that  is  inspired.  Sir,!  have  the  same 
confidence  in  ihe  success  of  our  struggle  at  this  moment  of 
apparent  gloom,  that!  had  at  its  commencement.  There  are 
yet  trials  before  us,,  the  severest  we  have  yet  encountered — but 
I  believe  our  people  will  bear  them  with  fortitude,  and  that 
their  resolution  will  b'e  increased  rather  than  diminished  by 
their  sacrifices.  I  believe  that  their  confidence  in  the  justice 
of  our  cause  is  such  that  they  are  ready  to  say  in  the  words 
and  with  the  faith  of  tiie  Apostle  :■ — "  We  are  troubled  on  evert/ 


8 

side,  yet  not  dismayed  ;  tve  are  perplexed^  but  not  in  despair  ; 
persecuted,  but  not  forsaken  ;  cant  down,  but  not  destroyed." 
Feeling  thus,  you  will  see  the  resolutions,  as  I  have  offered 
them,  do  not  admit  the  idea  of  failure.  There  ca7i  be  no 
failure  in  the  presence  of  the  fate  that  awaits  .us  if  we  do  not 
succeed.  In  such  a  contingency  history  offers  nq  parallel  of 
what  would  be  our  condition.  Poetry  woMld  find  no  numbers 
mournful  enough  for  our  funeral  dirge.  The  saddest  picture 
of  extinguished  nationality  ever  drawn  was  that  of  the  Prophet 
of  God,  weeping  over  the  desolation  of  his  chosen  people,  and 
yet  he  could  only  speak  of  a  country  laid  waste,  cities 
destroyed,  and  a  whole  people  scattered  dver  the  face,  of  the 
earth.  But  in  our  case,  it  will  be  far  worse.  An  heroic  peo- 
ple-^with  all  the  evidences  of  their  separate  existence — their 
honored  history  and  their  chei-ished  memories — will  be  forever 
merged  in,  and  made  to  complete  the  glory  of  the  nationality 
that  crushed  them. 


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